Chick Lit

I've tried to start this post 3 times and haven't been able to get anywhere. You would think the double-header of The Hills from Monday night would've been enough to inspire a novel, but alas, no. More on that in a minute though. The title is a song by We Are Scientists who I love, but apparently no one else in America feels the same way. They have a new album out in the UK, but the good people at Virgin gave me mean looks when I asked if they had it. I guess it comes out here in May, but the title still works.

I'm currently reading a Shana-approved book that may or may not qualify as "chick lit." Ever since a bad experience with a piece of crap known as The Nanny Diaries (being in a sorority can motivate you to read and watch all kinds of stupid shit), I've stayed far, far away from that genre. It's also just really embarrassing to claim you have a degree in English while toting around a paperback called something like Sexy Lipstick Cosmo Party Social Club. That may or may not be a real book - I'll get back to you. Anyway, the one I'm reading is called The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice, and I'm guiltily loving it. Say whatever you want, but it takes place in 1950s London and revolves around rich people - it's just plain wrong to turn down a book like that. It also happens to be well written, which you know, is always a plus. And Eva's dad is Tim Rice, who friggin' wrote all the lyrics to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Clearly, genius runs in that family.

Besides indulging in guilty pleasure reading, everything else has been quiet. Except that it seems I'm going to a little place known as the Holy Land. Yes, Birthright approved of my claim to Jewness and is sending me and Shana to Israel in May. MAY! That's way too soon, and traveling sounds way too scary and hard right now, but it's a free trip to the Motherland, and I can't turn that down. I'm gonna try and just not think about it because if I think, I panic. So updates will come when I'm ready to do some deep breathing and meditation.

While we're on the topic of deep spiritual experiences, I had completely forgotten about The Hills until Tivo sweetly reminded me that there were TWO full episodes on Monday night. Amazing. Heidi's lips seem to be slightly less swollen, but Audrina still looks like she's constantly staring at the ceiling (I can't take credit for that brilliantly accurate description: http://www.dlisted.com/node/24894). It was an entire hour of my life thrown away to the MTV Gods, and it was fantastic.

And finally, happy first birthday to Baby Zach, who is not so much a baby anymore, but a big, year-old blonde butterball. Much auntie love to my favorite Ian Ziering look-alike. Tonight, we celebrate your birth with a family viewing of Top Model.